The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-09-16
THE BROWNING CLUB.

Every town of Importance has Browning
society whose object seems to be the find
ing out of the meaning of what Mr..
Browning writes. Now could see some
sense in a Shakespeare society or Homer
society, for these two estimable gentle
men have been dead some time; but Mr..
Browning is alive and well, and If any
point in his writings is obscure should
think it the more practicable plan to send
the old man post card with a return half
to it and frankly ask him what he was driv-
ing at. This would only cost few cents
and would save an endless amount of dis
cussion that settles nothing, anyhow.
Browning societies are mostly composed
of ladies, but now and then man is ad-
mitted as a special favor, and on the
evening when Mrs. Fernfield Hoskins
gave discourse on a stanZa of Browning
l had the honor of an invitation.
The room was well filed and was per-
vaded with that subdued hum of polite
conversation that is characteristic of our
cultured assemblies. l found chair well
in the b;.ck: ground, and sat directly behind
u couple Of exceedingly pretty and very
stylishly dressed young ladies. / could
not help thinking how we are apt to err in
our estimate of those who move in what is
termed GOOD society, for l had noticed
each Of these young ladies on the avenue
81 different times, and my hasty conclu
sion was that they were frivolous young
things who had not either of them a mind
above the latest Paris fashion, yet here
ey were prepared to enjoy an intellectual
treat, for it is we'll known that Mrs. Fern
field HoskinS, of Boston, is not only an
earnest student, but deep thinker.
That l overheard the conversation of
those young ladies during the evening
was not my fault, because they spoke to
each other with their fans up to their
faces, which naturally reflected the sound
back to me.
"YOu know, Florrie, have been just
dying to have talk with you and to hear
all the particulars. OF course 1 heard q
good deal about it and it was so romantic,
but as you were there you will have so
much more to tell. Was it true that you
found young Hartford starving in garrett
in Paris? l think that was perfectly de-
icious. And they said you were with her
when she went to his studio, never know
ing it was his. But of course she did
know, didn't she? You were her brides
maid when they were married in Paris.
Do tell me all about it." At this moment
there was a ripple of applause and the
chairman of the society rose and said that
the hume of Mrs Fernfield Hoskins was
sufficient introduction TO any cultured au-
dience in the world. Applause.) He
was sure that nowhere would the talented
lady have a warmer welcome than in De-
troit. Renewed applause.) 1t was at
once his pleasure and his privilege to pre-
sent Mrs. Fernfield Hoskins to the Brown
ing club of Detroit. Great applause.)
At this gray haired lady of dignifed
presence slowly rose and came forward to
the desk, on which she placed an open
book. There was warm greeting from
the audience and the two young ladies
before me daintily patted their neatly
gloved hands. Mrs. Fernfield Hoskins
adjusted her glasses and, after few eulo-
CYSTIC remarks about the poet, read in
well modulated voice the following lines:
Where's the gainH
How can we guard our unbelief,
Make it bear fruit to us2 The problem here
Just when we are safest, there's sunset touch,
a fancy from flower bell, some ones death,
chorus ending from Euripides,
And that's enough for fifty hopes and fears,
As old and new at once as Natures self,
To rap and knock and enter in our soul.
Take hands and dance there, a fantastic ring,
Round the ancient idol, on his base again
The great perhaps!
"This stanza from 'Blougram, +" began
Mrs. Fernfield Hoskins, 'is, as you are
well AWARE
ttNow, Florrie," whispered the girl at
the left, "what never could understand
was why old Coupon would not allow
Fanny to marry young Hartford here,
when he failed, and yet gave his consent
to the marriage when they found him
starving in Paris. There isn't any senti-
ment about John Coupon, and a poor
young man in Paris is Just the same to
him as poor young man in Detroit. I
don't believe he has an affection for any
thing on this earth except that railroad
of his;
"Well," said the girl on the right, elf
you tell me what you heard of the story
I'll tell you whether it is correct or not"
"An right. Hartford was engaged to
Fanny Coupon the year before. Old
Coupon never seemed to like the match
very well, but Hartford appeared to be
getting along well on the board of trade,
and so he consented. Then he lost every
thing on that wheat deal Was it
wheat deal!n
''Pork, think"
'sWell, anyhow, old Coupon went down
to his Office and they say he abused him
fearfully. You know how old Coupon
can talk when he gets reused up. He &C
cused him of wanting to get Fanny's half
million that her mother left her and all
that. Hartford was broken hearted and
left for Paris. You know what a talent
for drawing he had. Well, they say he
swore he would become great painter.
Coupon took Fanny abroad so that she
would forget him and when they were in
Paris she went to his studio to get her
portrait painted and found him starving.
She made him take money and finally got
her fathers consent to their marriage.
Now, was that how it wasS"
''Well, not exactly. When Fanny's
mother died she left her half million.
Her father made her put it in the stock Of
that railroad he's president of. Fanny's
stock with her fathers stock gave him
control, and he did as he pleased. The
other stockholders tried often to beat him,
but they couldn't, and he ran things
without consulting any one else. Well,
when we were in Paris, Fanny didn't
seem to trouble herself much about her
lover, and her father was well pleased.
One day we were out shopping, and when
we came to the hotel we found old Coupon
pacing up and down the room like lion.
He had crumpled cablegram in his hand.